Month: October 2021

Peppa Pig and the earth Day Adventure

Peppa Pig and the earth Day AdventurePeppa Pig and the Earth Day Adventure by Candlewick Press
Published by Candlewick Press on March 9, 2021
ISBN: 1536218987
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Peppa Pig fans will enjoy this installment as the pig family has an earth day adventure.  The family plans to go to the botanical gardens and Peppa and George do their chores before they go.  They sort the recycling and talk about what goes in the compost bin.  The family even has an electric car, named Roger.  They pass the windmill field, visit the wildflower garden and learn about bees. On the way home the family is stopped by police because Daddy lets the car drive itself and he doesn’t have his hands on the wheel.  Roger, the car, shows the officers it’s driver’s license.  This story would be useful for preschools talking about Earth Day.  The characters and artwork are taken from the animated TV series which is on Nick Jr.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

The End is just the Beginning

The End is just the BeginningThe End Is Just the Beginning by Diana Mayo, Mike Bender
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers ISBN: 1984896938
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This picture book for children in grades Pre-k to 2, starts with the word “The End”.  A caterpillar reassures listeners that the end of something is the start of something else.  What follows is an illustrative listing of how that is possible:  a fair skinned child, and a dark skinned girl take a bike ride, blast off into space, go snorkeling, have a disagreement on the beach and a get well card is created among other things.  It is unclear if the children are siblings or friends.  Readers will notice the caterpillar making a chrysalis a few pages into the book and at the end of the story a butterfly comes into the picture.  Mayo’s acrylic paint, colored pencil and collage illustrations use a pastel and grey hue except when the children are blasting off into space.  The space pages have the text in a circle around the earth and forming a large infinity symbol.  This concept book provides concrete ideas that preschoolers will understand and will be useful for classrooms or individual lap-sharing.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

The Museum of Everything

The Museum of EverythingThe Museum of Everything by Lynne Rae Perkins
Published by Greenwillow Books on May 11, 2021
ISBN: 0062986309
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Recommending for cream.  A young girl explains to readers how she focuses on details when the world becomes overwhelming.  She imagines them as pieces in a museum, even if the museum is in her mind.  The young narrator quietly and gently allows the reader to think, ask questions and wonder about various things.  After a time of thinking and imagining museums, the young girl then goes back outside to the busy world.  Perkins brings these contemplative thoughts alive with bright three-dimensional illustrations that clearly show textures, movement and a creative use of everyday things.   Some of the illustrations demand multiple “viewings” and easily could pass for rooms in a doll house or an art installation.  There is much to see, feel and think about in this gem of a picture book most suitable for prek-3 grade readers.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

 

five-stars

Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle

Sloth and Squirrel in a PickleSloth and Squirrel in a Pickle by Cathy Ballou Mealey, Kelly Collier
Published by Kids Can Press on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 1525302388
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Fast moving Squirrel and slow moving Sloth work together to earn enough money to buy a bicycle. They land a job packing pickles but things don’t go quite the way they planned!

This is a fun, light-hearted read for ages 4-7 years old. The illustrations are adorable and the consistent use of yellow/green carries the pickle esthetic throughout the story. Problem solving and working together towards a common goal are the message of this silly premise.

 

Reviewed by Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School Library, York

 

three-stars

Simone Breaks All the Rules

Simone Breaks All the RulesSimone Breaks All the Rules (Simone Breaks All the Rules, #1) by Debbie Rigaud
Published by Scholastic Press on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 1338681729
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Simone Breaks All the Rules

 

All of Simone’s life she has looked forward to her senior prom, but not to her Haitian parents’ insistence that they choose her date.  The Haitian culture is evident throughout the book with the language and really delicious sounding foods.  But it was so easy to see that Simone would end up with her parents’ choice, because when she first met Ben he had a kind smile.  The cover is excellent and will draw readers in, as will the descriptions of her and her friends’ prom dresses.  This is a pleasant plot premise with a happy ending for all that takes place in New Jersey with two characters who love the Mets baseball team.  Not Cream-worthy but a fine choice for middle or high schools.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Jop and Blip Wanna Know

Jop and Blip Wanna KnowCan You Hear a Penguin Fart on Mars?: And Other Excellent Questions by Jim Benton
Published by HarperAlley on June 29, 2021
ISBN: 0062972928
Pages: 96
Genres: Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

This graphic novel was surprisingly funny and entertaining. Two robots, Jop and Blip, ask and answer all sorts of weird questions using science, kind of like the What If? section of the web comic xkcd, but way more accessible. The three questions tackled in the first book of what I’m hoping will be a series are: Can you hear a penguin fart on Mars? What if you wanted a dragon sandwich? Why do we need two ears?

The robots answer simply but informatively and the answers gently tackle the idea that to really know something you need lots of information, not just a little. Older elementary and middle school age kids (especially those who ask lots of questions) will enjoy this, as will fans of Bill Nye. This would be a great addition to a science room as well as a school library. As for whether you can hear a penguin fart on Mars? You’ll just have to read it to find out.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

What Would You Do in a Book About You?

What Would You Do in a Book About You?What Would You Do in a Book About You? by Jean Reidy, Joey Chou
Published by HarperCollins on April 6, 2021
ISBN: 0063041502
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This brightly colored book is for the advanced board book crowd, maybe around 2-6. It’s a series of rhyming questions aimed to get kids thinking about the adventures they’d like to have throughout their lives. A good bedtime book, it is sweet and colorful and opens up the possibility of fun discussions.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

The Sun Shines on the Sea

The Sun Shines on the SeaThe Sun Shines on the Sea by Michael Slack
Published by Candlewick Press on September 15, 2021
ISBN: 1536215694
Pages: 20
Genres: Animals
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
four-stars

The Sun Shines on the Sea by Michael Slack is an educational board book that introduces the food chain to young children. The book begins with the first line of the title- the sun shines on the sea.  Each page depicts what eats what.  The phytoplankton grows from the sun’s warmth and is the beginning of the food chain. The krill eat the phytoplankton next and then larger fish eat that. The fish gradually keep getting larger and larger until the end when the largest fish of all- the great blue whale eats a cloud of krill. This may be a surprise to children that it does not eat a huge fish!  The ending and the beginning are identical by ending with the same line. The sun shines on the sea and all of the food chain are shown  happily in the sea together.

Children will enjoy opening the various flaps on the fish and seeing what is hiding inside of their stomachs. An enjoyable book that is fun to look at and learn about the different creatures in the sea and their food choices.

 

Reviewed by Amy Tobalske, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars

Max Meow: Donuts and Danger

Max Meow: Donuts and DangerDonuts and Danger (Max Meow #2) by John Gallagher
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on April 6, 2021
ISBN: 0593121082
Pages: 240
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

Fans of Captain Underpants must be enjoying this new series for early primary grade readers.  Max is a superhero that is up against a dynamic look alike who uses his talents for all the wrong reasons.  While Max (Cat Crusader) is interested in saving donuts for the general public the Fake Cat Crusader wants them for selfish reasons.   Readers will enjoy the constant action and drama even as they appreciate the colorful and action-packed illustrations contained in this graphic novel.  The subtle differences in the color of clothing worn by the superheroes may confuse some readers, but they will enjoy a second read to confirm characters.

Add to public libraries where young reader series books are collected.  The first and now the third title in the series should also be ordered for the collection.  Consider as a gift book for grade 1-3 readers.

four-stars

The Beatryce Prophecy

The Beatryce ProphecyThe Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, Sophie Blackall
Published by Candlewick Press on September 28, 2021
ISBN: 1536213616
Pages: 256
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Recommending for Cream.   DiCamillo weaves a fairy-tale story that celebrates the power of words, knowledge of self and the steadfastness of love. Set in an unidentified medieval time of war and using her stylized power of precise and beautiful descriptions, Dicamillo introduces the reader to each character while building the tension of a fairy tale quest.  Brother Edik is a monk in the Chronicles of Sorrowing whose joy comes from creating the illuminated letters.  Answelica is the obstinate demon goat who terrorizes the monks.  Beatryce is a young girl who doesn’t remember anything besides her name but she has the unlawful ability to read and write.  The morning Brother Edik finds Beatryce in the barn protected by Answelica as she slept, he knows that the prophecy of a young girl who will unseat the king has come true.   With the help of Jack Dory, a brave boy who listens to animals and Cannoc, an old man with hidden secrets, Beatryce makes her way to the castle with Answelica her comical protector.   A story of a mermaid is also found in the rich fabric of the tale.  Blackall’s black and white illustrations pair perfectly with the story in their placement before each short chapter.  They are also precise and provide readers foreshadowing of action while providing a sense of the Medieval style.  This story could be suggested as a read aloud, character study, supplementing a historical unit and used for a fairy tale or creative writing unit.  For grades 3-6.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

five-stars